Winner: Brass Band Willebroek
2. the cooperation band
3. Brighouse & Rastrick
Little doubt amongst the panel who thoroughly deserved to take the premier banding accolade this year.
The truly outstanding Belgian band reigned triumphant in Stavanger against an immensely strong field of European rivals, and once again showed their domestic quality in securing yet another Belgian National triumph.
In addition, they were busy in the recording studio, promoted initiatives such as their popular Solo Championships and continued to develop the next generation of players stamped with an unmistakable Willebroek musical DNA.
The band secured 10 first choice preference votes from the panel. If they can repeat the form shown in the past yar in 2026 at the World Championships, Europeans, British Open and Belgian Nationals, who knows — that might repeat this honour a second time too.
A memorable year for the cooperation band both on and off the contest stage sees them come runner-up, whilst third place reflected the consistency shown throughout 2025 by British Open Champion Brighouse & Rastrick.
Panel:
The Awards Panel consisted of: Iwan Fox (4BR Editor); Chris Thomas (4BR & BBW); Malcolm Wood (4BR & BBW); Josie Sleigh (musician); Gordon Simpson (brass band statistician); Sarah Groarke-Booth (conductor/adjudicator); Michael Franz (Editor Brass Band News Switzerland); Liv Appleton (Content Creator/itsnotatrumpet.com); Camila Soderstrom Tveit (musician/adjudicator); Alexander Zwann (conductor/journalist); Tim Mutum (brass band historian); Henk Van Loon (Editor Emotions on Stage); Philippa Edwards AOM (conductor/performing arts producer); Stein Skorpholm (broadcaster/musician).
Past Winners:
2024: Brass Band Treize Etoiles
2023: Brass Band Treize Etoiles
2022: Brighouse & Rastrick
2021: Foden's
2020: Foden's
2019: Cory
2018: Valaisia Brass Band
2017: Eikanger Bjorsvik
2016: Cory
2015: Cory
2014: Black Dyke
2013: Cory
2012: Foden's
2011: Brighouse & Rastrick
2010: Tredegar
2009: Cory
2008: Cory
2007: Grimethorpe Colliery Band
2006: Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band
2005: Black Dyke
2004: Yorkshire Building Society
2003: Yorkshire Building Society
2002: Foden's Richardson
2001: Yorkshire Building Society
